Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah Song Changed My Life

This is the time of year when I indulge in my annual discourse about the largely overlooked importance of the oeuvre of Adam Sandler. “The Hanukkah Song” — along with predictably varying spellings (Hanukah, Chanukkah, et al ) — is my favorite seasonal carol and, as a direct tie-in requiring some explanation, The Wedding Singer (1998) is my favorite holiday movie — a point of view that may require some back story.

Here we go.

I was a Recovering Catholic before I was a Recovering Anything, so Winter Solstice festivities were an early source of angst. By my late teens I had found a way to explain everything by concentrating on the anthropomorphic, that all cultures celebrate the darkest days by getting together in a variety of both necessary and outdated rituals assuring that longer days are coming and spring’s warmth is nearing. Plus, feasting and huddling together in groups (both clothed and un-) are excellent activities to pass the time when it’s cold outside.

I could also retreat into an historical explanation of the Festival of Lights as a miracle story celebrating the end of a bloody civil war (Books of the Maccabees). I would then launch into Charles Dickens and the commercialization of Christmas in the Industrial Revolution’s consumer economy. I liked to think of myself as everyone’s favorite Marxist Scrooge.

That was before, much to my surprise, I found myself as the Gay Atheist Alternative Parent in a Jewish family.  My neighbor Nancy, the woman who still jokingly refers to me as her favorite ex-husband, introduced me to both her daughter and her life-changing latkes (crispy thin, delicious potato pancakes that defy accurate description and put all other potato presentations in a culinary shade).  Shortly into our new family structure, Adam Sandler appeared on Saturday Night Live (1994), and “The Hanukkah Song” — along with Adam — became a traditional part of our joyful and radical new approach to Christmas and the holiday season.

So, thirty years later, with our “daughter” all-grown up and mother to a child of her own, when that once-dreaded time of year rolls around, I hum the song, and then watch The Wedding Singer (1998) — because, in addition to Sandler at his nasal best, there’s music, Drew Barrymore (of whom I’m inexplicably fond), and a story that tells us that true love can happen, even in the most ridiculous ritualistic settings

I love “The Hanukkah Song” — however it’s spelled, and in whatever of the various covers in which it now appears.  Curiously, it remains the ONLY song specific to the Jewish holiday that gets regular play. I wonder if Sandler knew at the time he was breaking ground that would remain stubbornly frozen, 30 years later? As we see a shocking nationwide resurgence of antisemitism and racial hatred, we need Adam Sandler to remind us, with humor and love, that the holidays are for everyone.

So, let’s all celebrate the Festival of Lights in this American winter with some music and laughter. And, in my experience, latkes and/or jelly donuts can only add to the enjoyment.

Happy Hanukkah!

THE HANUKAH SONG- Adam Sandler- Composed By Adam Sandler, Lewis Morton & Ian Maxtone-Graham- Originally Performed on SNL Weekend Update 1994

Okay
This is a song that uhh
There’s a lot of Christmas songs out there and uhh
Not too many Chanukah songs
So uhh
I wrote a song for all those nice little Jewish kids
Who don’t get to hear any Chanukah songs
Here we go!

CHORUS:
Put on your yarmulke
Here comes Hanukkah
So much funukkah
To celebrate Hanukkah

Hanukkah is
The Festival of Lights
Instead of one day of presents
We have eight crazy nights!

When you feel like the only kid in town
Without a Christmas tree
Here’s a list of people who are Jewish
Just like you and me

David Lee Roth lights the Menorah
So does James Caan, Kirk Douglas and the late Dina Shore-ah
Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli?
Bowzer from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzerelli

Paul Newman’s half Jewish, Goldie Hawn’s half too
Put them together, what a fine looking Jew!
You don’t need “Deck the Halls” or “Jingle Bell Rock”
Cause you can spin a dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock (both Jewish!)

CHORUS:
Put on your yarmulke
Its time for Hanukkah
The owner of the Seattle Supersonic-ahs
Celebrates Hanukkah

O.J. Simpson: not a Jew
But guess who is?: Hall-of-famer Rod Carew (he converted)
We got Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby
Harrison Ford’s a quarter Jewish – not too shabby!

Some people think that Ebenezer Scrooge is
Well he’s not, but guess who is?: All three Stooges!
So many Jews are in showbiz
Tom Cruise isn’t, but I heard his agent is

Tell your friend Veronica
It’s time you celebrate Hanukkah
I hope I get a harmonica
On this lovely, lovely Hanukkah

So drink your gin and tonic-ah
And smoke your marijuani-kkah
If you really, really wanna-kkha
Have a happy, happy, happy, happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah!

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This post is republished on Medium.

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Photo credit: iStock